Today is the last day of February, the last day of Black History Month. The Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association would like to honor the end of this month with a special newsletter highlighting the past, present, and future. Americans of African descent have made great contributions to this country and have made great strides in improving our lives and the lives of our fellow Americans.

Yikes! We are putting out our January newsletter in February! To say that 2018 has gotten off to a busy start would be the understatement of, well, the year. January was busy. We actually published the newsletter on January 16, but we kept adding to it because we kept finding ourselves involved in interesting events. We kept saying, “We have to put this news in the newsletter.” So it kept getting pushed back, but we think it is worth it. We hope your new year has gotten off to a great start. And we wish you only the best of everything throughout this whole year.

Buffalo Soldier Day

On Sunday, January 14, several members of SISCA attended the Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) Buffalo Soldier Day. This is an annual event for the ITC, and we were honored to attend. The purpose of our attendance was to honor our legacy by discussing our history with the visitors who attended. Along three tables, several pictures and other items that held historical and sentimental value were displayed.

A big "thank you" goes to Ms. Cynthia Atchico for setting this up. We look forward to making this an annual event.

Martin Luther King Jr Day

On Monday, January 15, several members of SISCA attended Del Rio’s annual Martin Luther King Jr Day March. This day was about reverence and action. Those who attended were urged by the speakers to get involved, to become passionate about making positive changes.

Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Tribes Meeting - Saturday, January 20, 2018Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

On Saturday, January 20, SISCA member Cynthia Atchico attended the meeting of the Descendants of Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes. She reported that, at this meeting, she took part in some important conversations, learned pertinent information, and met some wonderful people.

Ms. Cynthia Atchico appears in the photo above, along with several of the other participants.

Ms. Vann is the person who is responsible for the Oklahoma Cherokee Nation accepting their Freedmen back into their nation with full citizenship.​

Museum Visit and Donation

Monday, January 29 was a busy day at the museum. At nine o’clock in the morning, we were happy and honored to give a special tour to Brother Y.J. Jimenez and his good friend John Querolo. During the tour, Y.J. and John went from tour guests to museum volunteers. When we got to the pot-belly stove, Augusta Pines (SISCA president) mentioned that it had been put together incorrectly. Brother Y.J. and John then hopped into action, taking the stove apart and putting it back together correctly. Afterward, they posed proudly in front of their handiwork.

In addition to putting the pot-belly stove together correctly, Brother Y.J. and John saw that the museum was greatly in need of a new display case. So later that day, they on behalf of the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation/First Baptist Church, Brackettville, Texas, donated a display case that had been purchased during the recent Alamo Village auction and sale. Pictured in the photos along with Brother Y.J. Jimenez, John Querolo, and Augusta "Gigi" Pines are Ron Lowe and Sterling "Smiley" Goodloe.

In addition to the large display case, a smaller case was also donated by the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation/First Baptist Church, Brackettville, Texas. We are very thankful.

"Battle of Lake Okeechobee" by Johnny Montgomery --Print Donated to Museum by Artist

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On Friday, February 3, we received a special delivery via the USPS. Although we knew about the impending arrival, we were still overwhelmed when this amazing print had been taken out of its packaging.

Mr. Johnny Montgomery, an artist out of Fayetteville, North Carolina, contacted SISCA in the middle of January. He asked if he could donate one of his prints to our museum. We eagerly accepted his offer. We are currently looking for the perfect frame for this special piece. We are indebted to Mr. Montgomery for his generosity.

Saturday, February 10 - Monthly Meeting

On Saturday, February 10, we held our monthly meeting. Pictured above are a few of those who attended. Pictured in the photo are (L to R): Corina T. Harrington, secretary, Joe Louis Factor, Mary Cleve (in front of Mr. Factor), Augusta "Gigi" Pines, president, Mary Nofi, board member, and Mr. Al Nofi. We want to thank everyone who was able to attend.

Saturday, February 24 --Black History Month Program

We are looking forward to celebrating Black History month on Saturday, February 24. Come and join us!

Fort Clark Days --Friday and Saturday, March 2-3, 2018

Fort Clark Days is an important tradition for Fort Clark/Brackettville residents. We are happy to participate in this annual event.

Next Monthly Meeting - March 2017

Our next meeting will take place on Saturday, March 10 at 1 PM at the Carver School. We look forward to seeing you there.

Membership

Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew you membership. Or you can send us your check by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us. There truly is strength in numbers. Become a member of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association today. Thank you!

A few months ago, Mr. Bennie McRae contacted Cythnia Atchico to see if SISCA would be interested in utilizing the invaluable archives that he has amassed over the years. Without hesitation, we said yes. Over the coming the weeks, we will be adding this information to our website. We are honored that Mr. McRae has entrusted us with his work.

We can never say "thank you" enough.

Thank you to everyone who has donated to SISCA since our last newsletter. Thank you for your time and attention, for your interest in our history, museum, cemetery, and association. Thank you for helping us keep our legacy alive.

The month of December has flown by, hasn't it? Here, in Brackettville, we have had a wonderful time, enjoying this holiday season. As this month comes to a close, we want to inform you about some of the events that happened this year and some of the things we are looking forward to in the coming year.

Kinney County Frontier Christmas -​Saturday, December 2, 2017

On Saturday, December 2, 2017, Kinney County held its annual Christmas celebration. It was a fun time for all, where vendors set up booths and displayed their wares. There were lots of great gift ideas for those shopping for Christmas and lots of great food. We look forward to this event every year.

This year, SISCA donated bags filled with candy and fruit. They were handed out along with the toys that were given to the children of Brackettville by the volunteer fire department. A big Thank You to Ms. Beverly A. Kelly for donating the paper bags and candy.

Monthly Meeting and Christmas Dinner -Saturday, December 16, 2017

On December 16, several members gathered for our regular meeting and to celebrate the holiday season by having a Christmas dinner together. We are so happy that we were able to gather and fellowship before the end of the year.

The Year in Review

January 2017

January started with us getting back in motion. In 2016, we had been pretty quiet, but we rang in 2017 by starting our newsletter again. We are always humbled by and grateful for all of the support we receive. Our January newsletter served as a review of the previous year.

In May, Brackettville residents were delighted when they attended a performance by the Yumari Ballet Folklorica group for Cinco de Mayo. This performance was sponsored by the Kinney County Arts Council.

Click the link below to find out what else was in our May 2017 newsletter.

August 2017 was all about preparing for Seminole Days. Every year, as soon as August 1 hits, a countdown begins. And it seems like August flies by in less than a minute. It is a super hot and super busy month. It is fabulous!

September 2017 is the month for SISCA. This is our Christmas, New Year's, and Fourth of July rolled into one because of our 3-day celebration. This year's celebration was made even more special because of an unusual set of circumstances, but we expect and anticipate only the best outcome in all things.

October 2017 was our recovery month. Unfortunately there was no newsletter this month.

November 2017

Thankfulness! Gratitude! And Love! Oh, my! November was filled with all of these good things and so much more. By the time Thanksgiving rolled around, we were full to overflowing with all of the goodness that surrounds us.

There are only six days left in December, but it has been a great month. We are gearing up for the new year. We cannot wait for 2018 and all of the possibilities it will bring with it.

Membership

Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to make an online payment. Or you can send us your check by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us.

Our next monthly meeting will take place on Saturday, January 13 at 1 PM. We do look forward to seeing you there.

Thank you

We would like to say thank you to everyone who has donated money, volunteered their time, visited the museum, or just become interested in the history of the Black Seminoles. We truly appreciate you and cannot truly thank you enough.

It is with reverence and honor that we observe Veterans' Day. The sacrifice of our brave men and women in uniform is never lost on us. We take time out to honor this special day, but do our best to spend every day thanking those who have fought for the freedoms we enjoy.

Placing Flags at Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery

On Friday, November 10, members of SISCA placed flags on the graves of those who served in the military, ahead of the observance of Veterans' Day. This is an annual tradition for SISCA. This is one very small act that we hope shows those who have fought and died for our country how grateful we are for their service.

Seminole Days 2017

It is hard to believe that it is already November. Time has flown by. We are still working on compiling all of our Seminole Days photos and videos. Once we add the pictures to the site, we will send out the link to everyone. Thank you for your patience.

Every Seminole Days is a special time of year, but I think many of you would agree that Seminole Days 2017 was particularly important. This year, everyone who gathered at the Carver School grounds came together in solidarity, fellowship, and out of love and respect for our ancestors and our legacy as an organization. Thank you for your unwavering and continued support. We are indebted to you, humbled, overwhelmed, and grateful.

Thanksgiving

We want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. We hope that you will be spending the day surrounded by your loved ones.

Membership

Photo courtesy of Deborah Hitchcock for Deborah Hitchcock Images

Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew you membership. Or you can send us your check by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us. There truly is strength in numbers. Become a member of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association today. Thank you!

Our next monthly meeting will take place on Saturday, December 9 at 1:00 PM. At the next meeting, we will be discussing and planning events for the upcoming year. We did not meet in October, but we will be meeting today (November 11 at 1 PM). During this meeting, we will be discussing our Kinney County Frontier Christmas booth.

Thank You!

Since Seminole Days, we've had two cemetery cleanups (Oct 21 and Nov 3). Both of the cleanups were organized and led by Mr. Joe Louis Factor. We also want to thank Mr. Joe Kelly, who came out to the cemetery yesterday while we were placing the flags, for all of his hard work as well. ​

Thank you to Ms. Beverly A. Kelly for taking on the project of cleaning and reorganizing the resource room. It's a lot of work, but she has tackled it with enthusiasm.

Thank you to Ms. Cynthia Atchico for donating the smart TV to the museum. It will make a wonderful addition to the space.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has continued to support us, especially during this time. We appreciate your thoughts, prayers, meditations, and good, positive vibes. We feel them. We know that all will be well.

Special Seminole Days Newsletter

Hello, Everyone! We wanted to do something a little different this year. Instead of waiting until after Seminole Days to publish our newsletter, we've decided to create this one before our celebration to act as a companion to the itinerary.

Note for smartphone users (from our friends at WikiTongues):Best practices when capturing video and photos via smartphones:* When getting photos from someone make sure you're getting the highest quality, which on iPhones and Androids is usually called "original." This may take a little longer to send/transfer, but will be well worth the wait.* For video, make sure to hold the phone horizontally so that everything is in widescreen, and if there is a setting for video format, make sure to choose the highest possible quality.*When shooting something, it's important to keep in mind that the most usable footage is usually the most stable footage. Staying with a single shot for, at least, 10 seconds or so before moving around is a good thing to keep in mind.

Throughout the entire day, there will be vendors and booths, museum tours, a silent auction, and movies being shown at the Carver School Grounds.Sunday, September 17, 2017:

10:00 PM – Service at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery

Following the service - Special meeting at the Carver School

Friday, September 15, 2017

7:30 AM - Trip to Seminole Canyon

The first activity on our itinerary is our annual trip to Seminole Canyon. Seminole Indian Scout descendant Cynthia Atchico of Wewoka, Oklahoma first organized this outing in 2013. Since then, participation and interest in this annual trip has grown, and it is something that everyone looks forward to doing each year.

The group will meet at the Carver School at 7:30 AM and will depart from the school and make their way to Comstock, Texas, which is just outside of Del Rio. The Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association does not charge for the trip to Seminole Canyon, but there is a fee to enter Seminole Canyon. The entrance fee is $10.

Please Note: We will be providing breakfast for our Seminole Canyon group.

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Lecture Series/Meet and Greet

For our lecture series this year, we are pleased to welcome Allen Mack, founder of the Living History Foundation. Mr. Mack will speak about the life and times of the Buffalo Soldiers. He is an in-demand historian whose portrayal of the lives of black soldiers has entertained and informed young and old alike. Following Mr. Mack, Dr. Shirley Mock will give a short presentation about her research on Black Seminole women. The lecture series will take place at the Carver School, beginning at six PM.

Following the presentation, we will have refreshments.

Saturday, September 16, 2017

8:30 AM - Robert "Bobby" Kibbetts​ Marker Dedication

At 8:30 AM, we look forward to dedicating a marker to Robert "Bobby" Kibbetts and his descendants. The marker dedication has become an annual project. Each year, we partner with the Fort Clark Historical Society to decide on a scout and complete the necessary research and installation of the marker.​Please note: We might have to reschedule the marker dedication ceremony. Please check the front page of the our website and our Facebook page for more details.

10:00 AM - Parade

Our annual parade will begin at 10 AM. This year, our parade marshal is Mr. Pete Louis Pierce. He is a resident of Del Rio, Texas, and a beloved member of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association.​Would you like to participate in the parade? Let us know.

11:00 AM - Annual Program

We are honored to have Pastor Y.J. Jimenez as our guest speaker for our annual program. Pastor Jimenez is the preacher at First Baptist Church here in Brackettville. We are looking forward to his speech on Saturday morning.

12:00 PM - Barbecue Plate Sale

Who is ready for some barbecue?Our barbecue plate sale will feature brisket, chicken, and goat. The sides are beans, rice, and potato salad. The price for the brisket and chicken plates are $10. The price for the goat plates are $12. Can you say "yum"?

1:00 PM - Special Screening ofJoseph Hill's Documentary

We are honored that Mr. Joseph Hill will be screening his documentary during Seminole Days. Come and watch Black Border Warriors at the Brackett ISD Auditorium on Saturday at 1 PM.

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - B-I-N-G-O!

What is more fun than yelling "BINGO"? Come on down and try your luck at the Carver School Grounds. The fun will begin at three!

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Spaghetti Dinner

Our spaghetti dinner has become a new favorite event. Who doesn't love spaghetti, right? And this year, we are in for treat. Our very own Mr. Al Nofi will be lending his culinary skills to us and making a few batches of his famous spaghetti sauce. Needless to say, we cannot wait! Join us. The dinner is $5.

8:00 PM - 1:00 AM - Dance

There will be no better way to work off that great spaghetti dinner than by dancing the night away. DJ Musicman Trevino will providing the music. The dance will begin at 8 and will end at 1. Come and dance, as we have for decades, under the stars.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

10:00 AM - Cemetery Service

Join us at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery at 10 AM. During our service, we will pay our respects to all the loved ones we've lost this year. Mrs. Billie Jean Frierson will be the mistress of ceremonies. Following the service, ​we will gather at the Carver School for a short meeting.

Unknown Marker Project

Below is a picture of one of the first 16 unknown grave markers that have been placed at the cemetery. This is just the beginning of this project that we have partnered with the Fort Clark Historical Society to complete. We hope that highlighting these graves that offer little to no information will cause those who might know who is buried in them to come forward and divulge any information that they might have. Following our service on Sunday, we invite you to walk to the far right corner and take a look at the work that has begun there.

Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association​Legal Defense Fund

SISCA is deeply unhappy to have to bring you bad news just before Seminole Days, but we have just been put in a position that we feel you all need to know about.

Lee Roy Young and the proposed Absentee Seminole Tribe of Texas (ASTT) have just brought a lawsuit against SISCA in an attempt to take away all of the properties that have been under SISCA's guardanship since 1967, including the cemetery and the school grounds. As long-term guardians of the cemetery and representatives of the will of the entire Black Seminole Indian Scout descendants community, we cannot allow the cemetery to come under the control of the ASTT, which represents only a small portion of scout descendants.

So we are fighting back. And we need your help.

SISCA operates on a shoestring budget and all our resources go to the management and upkeep of the cemetery and the Carver School. We do not have money for a legal battle; therefore, we are creating a Legal Defense Fund for SISCA. Once this issue is resolved, any remaining funds will go into SISCA's general budget for cemetery and school grounds upkeep.

On Sunday, following the cemetery service, we will have a short meeting at Carver School to answer your questions, but in the meantime, here is a summary of the events leading to this legal situation.

SISCA has made every effort to support the formation of the ASTT and to work together as two separate but complementary groups. From the beginning, we supported Mr. Young in his efforts to form the tribe by allowing him to hold his first meetings at the Carver School and by allowing him to use our post office box for correspondence.

While preparing for Seminole Days last year, Mr. Young and his representatives from the group wanted SISCA to have our annual dance at their banquet, instead of where we've had it for decades -- at the Carver School Grounds. Conflict between the two groups began when SISCA decided to stay with tradition. Members of the tribe verbally ridiculed SISCA for being old fashioned.

During their first banquet, Mr. Young presented surprise plans for the renovation of the cemetery's fence line, including architectural plans and a mock up. He did not first bring these plans to SISCA, and without any form of approval from SISCA, who are the guardians of the cemetery, he began raising funds for these plans that night, as he later stated at a SISCA meeting.

SISCA was not comfortable with the lack of due process and disregard for our role as custodians of the cemetery, but the board decided to try to work with Mr. Young and his group, rather than oppose them.

In February 2017, SISCA members who were in attendance at the February 11 meeting voted to allow the ASTT to continue fundraising for their proposed fence line renovation project, while the two groups worked together to determine exactly what the renovation project would be. The initial design was not approved by SISCA, as it did not preserve any of the older elements of the cemetery gate, which is part of the historical nature of the cemetery. SISCA asked Mr. Young to present us with new plans. Mr. Young, in his February 16 letter to SISCA, confirms that members wanted to have the sign incorporated into the design, yet he failed to provide a new design with these changes.

Following the February meeting, Mr. Young failed to appear at any of our subsequent meetings, although he was informed of every meeting and had promised to be at every meeting to keep us abreast of project developments. After six months without communication from Mr. Young, SISCA held a vote on August 12 to rescind the fence line project. We asked that he stop fundraising for the project. We presented this letter to Mr. Young on August 17 during a meeting that we had with Mr. Young and his group and Congressman Will Hurd's representatives.

We have not signed a contract with Mr. Lee, so there is no breach of contract, as he claims. We agreed to work together on the renovation project based on the submission of new plans, and when he did not fulfill his side of the exploratory phase, we did not feel comfortable continuing this project.

On August 21, we received a certified letter from Mr. Young, stating that he would not stop fundraising. We did not formally answer this letter. Instead, we informed our lawyer, who advised us to wait and see what Mr. Young did next.

On September 12, we received paperwork informing us that we were being sued by Mr. Young and his tribe. We are being sued for breach of contract, failure to maintain the cemetery and Carver School, and Mr. Young's pain and suffering (because, he alleges, his reputation has been damaged). He wants SISCA to pay his legal expenses, and he wants the judge to award him and his tribe all of the properties currently under SISCA's custodianship. Mr. Young is acting as his own lawyer.

We were not surprised by this action because we have been told numerous times by members of Mr. Young's group that, if we do not allow them to make the changes they want to the cemetery, they would find a way to take over. They are now making good on this threat, and it is fairly clear that this has been their intent all along.

We find it insulting that Mr. Young alleges that we do not take proper care of the cemetery and school grounds, as we work very hard at preserving our heritage and are very proud of it. We have invited Mr. Young and his tribe to participate in our cemetery cleanups, but our invites have continually gone unanswered. With limited funds and very little manpower, a small group of us have been maintaining and slowly improving the cemetery, school grounds, and, since its creation in 2015, the museum. It is a lot of work, and we welcome all of the help and support we can get, but we are not willing to trade our role as custodians, in order to allow the ASTT to take over.

We want to continue representing the will and desires of all of the Black Seminole Scouts descendants, not just those who have joined the tribe. We want to make sure that any changes made to the cemetery do not destroy its historical heritage and that the graves of our ancestors will not be molested by construction projects. We feel that any project to renovate the cemetery must first be approved by the entire community and that it is our job to make sure that happens.

We welcome the positive energy of the ASTT and any other organization that wishes to work with us and help us move in a prosperous direction. We need and welcome support that will help us improve and maintain our cemetery, but big changes must be done with the community's approval, and our role as the custodians of the cemetery must be acknowledged and respected, and we will fight for that.

We hope you agree with us and will give what you can to support us in this unfortunate legal battle. Your support is beyond necessary and very much appreciated. We will keep you updated on all that develops.

To donate, click the button below. You will be directed to our membership page. Simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can donate $10, $50, or $100. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew you membership. Or you can send us you check by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us, especially as we prepare for court. There truly is strength in numbers. Become a member of the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association today. Thank you!

Thank you, first of all, for making it through this entire newsletter. We felt that it was important to, along with getting the word out about Seminole Days, keep everyone abreast of what is going on. We thank you for your kindness and your support. We thank you for your willingness to give a helping hand. As we say all the time, thank you never seems like it is enough. We are truly humbled and honored by you all.

Happy August, y'all!We hope this month has treated you well thus far. We are deep in planning mode, getting ready for Seminole Days. So we are pretty excited and can't wait to see all of you on September 15-17.

This Seminole Days will mark the 145th anniversary of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery.(More details can be found further down in the newsletter.)

August Meeting and Cemetery Cleanup -Saturday, August 12

On Saturday, August 12, members of SISCA gathered at the cemetery to participate in our monthly cleanup. It was a beautiful morning. The sun greeted us, and it was bright and strong the whole time we were out there. We worked from 8AM-12PM. Thank you to Diane Flowers for providing sandwiches and chips and potato salad and thank you to Beverly A. Kelly for providing water.

At 1PM, we gathered at the Carver School for our monthly meeting. During the meeting, several important issues were discussed and voted on. We finalized plans for Seminole Days and voted to have a hamburger sale on September 9. Most importantly, the members who were in attendance unanimously voted to rescind the Absentee Seminole Tribe's proposed fence line renovation project.

We believe that it is important to make it clear that the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association, which was founded in 1967, has no interest in merging with any other group, but we are happy to work with any group that is willing to respectfully work with us.

San Antonio Fundraiser - Saturday, August 19

On Saturday, August 19, from 11AM - 2PM, our secretary Corina Torralba Harrington held a BBQ plate sale/fundraiser for the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association at Brackenridge Park in San Antonio. The BBQ plates were pre-sold, and she was overwhelmed by how well it all turned out. We are grateful to her for all of her hard work, and while we were thanking her, Corina was quick to point out that she could not have done this by herself. She had a team made up of family and friends who donated food, helped prepare it, and helped serve it. She and SISCA would like to thank the following people: Lee Torralba, Ana Gutierrez, Miriam Torralba, Saul Arias, Gloria Romero, Fracia Flores, Alexa Davila, Jacqueline Gonzales, Glelia Nombrana, Amparo Guitierrez, Lee Jay Krueger, Brian Harrington Jr, Brian Harrington Sr, David Stautzenberger, Charlie Delgado, and Gabriel Cabrera.

Upcoming Fundraiser - Hamburger Sale -Saturday, September 9

Saturday, September 9 is going to be a busy day for the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association. On this day, we plan to have a cemetery cleanup, a monthly meeting, and a hamburger plate sale. We hope that you will join us for all three scheduled events, but we really hope that you will stop by the Carver School and buy a delicious hamburger from us. The hamburger sale will start at 11AM.

Seminole Days 2017

WE CAN'T WAIT! Seminole Days is less than a month away. Every year, around this time, we become busier than little bees as we finalize our preparations and anticipate the fun, fellowship, education, and food that will be had over this three-day celebration. A special addition to our annual festivities is Joseph Hill's documentary. It will be screened at the Brackett ISD auditorium. We are very humbled that he has brought this to us before it is viewed by anyone else.

Are you interested in participating in our parade? Would you like to be a vendor? Would you like to volunteer? Contact us on any of our social media sites or call Augusta Pines at 830.309.4663.

Membership

Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew your membership. Or you can send us your check by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us.

Our next monthly meeting will be held on Saturday, September 9, at the Carver School at 1 PM. Among other things, we will be continuing to plan for our annual Seminole Days celebration. We encourage you to attend and to bring snacks and drinks. More importantly, we hope that you will bring your great ideas. We look forward to seeing you next month.

Thank You!

We have so much to be thankful for. We would like to say "thank you" to everyone who has donated money, volunteered their time, visited the museum, or shown an interest in the history of the Black Seminoles and the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association. One million thank yous!

​On Saturday, the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association celebrated Juneteenth. Last week, I discussed the history. This week, I’d like to talk about what happened during our celebration. This year, we kept it very simple; we had a special program and a barbecue plate sale.

The Juneteenth program began at ten in the morning. Mrs. Adams began the program with an opening prayer. Her words were wise, heartfelt, and a fitting start to our annual celebration. I followed Mrs. Adams. I welcomed everyone and introduced “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which is also known as the Negro National Anthem. Unfortunately, for me, (but fortunately for anyone who is looking for a good laugh), there might be a few videos floating around Facebook of me singing. All that can be said is that I did my best. While I might not be the best singer, the lyrics to “Life Every Voice and Sing” are some of my favorite, and I am happy that we were able to share this beautiful song with those who might not have heard it before.

Following the welcome, we felt it was necessary to explain what Juneteenth is, so my niece Windy Goodloe talked about the history of Juneteenth. After the explanation for Juneteenth was given, Mr. Albert Nofi read General Order No. 3, which is also known as the Texas Emancipation Proclamation. We appreciate him giving such a moving reading of this important historical document.

One of the most important Juneteenth traditions involves the food that was traditionally eaten. Red food was most commonly consumed because crimson is a symbol of ingenuity and resilience in bondage. To give everyone a little taste of this tradition, we gave everyone a cup of Big Red and some strawberries to snack while they learned about this rich food tradition.

Next, we opened the floor to our guests who wanted to make remarks. First, I got up and spoke. Then, Beverly Kelly spoke about her memories of previous Juneteenths. Mary Vasquez-Gamble spoke about her memories as well. Finally, Jon Arnold, the military and veterans’ affairs liaison for U.S. Representative Will Hurd, introduced himself and his family and talked about his Juneteenth experiences.

Lastly, Windy Goodloe led a group recitation of Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise.” From here, we took the program outside, where as we thanked and remembered those who came before us, before we released balloons.

Following the conclusion of the program, several of our Juneteenth celebration attendees toured our Seminole Negro Indian Scout Museum. Also, several members of the Pierce family, who were celebrating their family reunion, congregated at the school. This is the second year that we’ve been able to celebrate Juneteenth with this beautiful family of Seminole Negro Indian Scout descendants.

​The barbecue plate sale went better than expected. Many of those who bought plates, instead of leaving, decided to eat at the school, so many of us stayed at the school well into the evening, enjoying each other, laughing, reminiscing, and just being grateful for a day well-spent.

written by Augusta Pines, Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association President

​Fourth of July CelebrationSaturday, July 1, 2017

​We, as a town, celebrated the Fourth of July on Saturday, July 1. It was a busy, fun-filled, action-packed day, to say the least. There were so many events scheduled for that day, and I felt it was my duty to attend as many as possible.

Independence Day or the Fourth of July is a federal holiday that commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and were no longer part of the British Empire. The Congress actually voted to declare independence two days earlier, on July 2 (Wikipedia).

On July 3, 1776, John Adams wrote the following to his wife Abigail: “The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with the pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

In 1777, thirteen gunshots were fired in salute, once in the morning and once again as evening fell on July 4, on Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner that we modern Americans would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salute, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships in port were decked with red, white, and blue bunting (Wikipedia).

​Here in Brackettville, we did just that. The patriotic program and the fireworks were highlights. This past weekend was full of festivities that highlighted our freedom and our love for our country.

​written by Augusta Pines, SISCA President

​Cemetery Cleanup and MeetingSaturday, July 8, 2017

Photos Courtesy of Corina Torralba-Harrington

On Saturday, July 8, we had a cemetery cleanup, and we held our monthly meeting. Our cleanup volunteers met out at the cemetery at 8 AM. They worked until around noon. They accomplished a lot, and during our meeting, we discussed what other improvements we would like to see made during the next cleanup.​While the cemetery cleanup crew was improving the look of the cemetery, several other SISCA members gathered at our museum. The task on Saturday was to start cleaning out the back storage room. The goal is to make it a resource room. We hope to call it the Charles Emily Wilson Resource Room. This project is being spearheaded by Beverly A. Kelly.

During our monthly meeting, which started at 1 PM, we discussed our Juneteenth celebration, upcoming projects, and our annual Seminole Days celebration.

Following the meeting, many of the members gathered at the museum. We were delighted to get to share our history with J.J. Guidry and his beautiful family as they toured the museum.

Seminole Days 2017​September 15-17, 2017

We are currently planning our annual Seminole Days celebration. It is our goal to improve upon the success of the previous year. There are several events that are set in stone, but we look forward to improving upon and adding to these traditions each year.

On Friday, we will take our annual trip to Seminole Canyon. The group usually departs from the Carver School between seven and seven-thirty in the morning. Later that evening, we'll have our meet and greet/lecture series. We are excited about this year's series and look forward to sharing more details with you soon.

On Saturday, we will be having our marker dedication in Fort Clark. This is an on-going project that we've done with the Fort Clark Historical Society for the past five years. From there, we will have our parade. If you would like to participate in the parade, please contact us. After the parade, we will gather at the Carver School Grounds and spend the rest of the day celebrating there, as we have done for decades. Our annual Seminole Days program will begin at eleven. Following the program, at noon, we will begin our BBQ plate sale. Next up, there will be a bingo, a silent auction, and museum tours. There will also be several vendors on the grounds, selling their wares. That evening, we will have our spaghetti dinner. And following the spaghetti dinner, we will have our annual dance, which will take place on the Carver School Grounds, underneath the stars.

On Sunday, we will gather at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery and pay our respects to our loved ones who are buried in those hallowed grounds.

SISCA's Seminole Days is a our annual celebration that was first created and celebrated under the auspices of Miss Charles Emily Wilson, our beloved founder. We have made it a tradition to return to Carver School each year because this is what she envisioned and wanted. Each Seminole Days, she is never far from our minds. We strive to make her proud as we come together to celebrate and honor our legacy.

Membership

Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew your membership. Or you can send us your check by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us.

Our next monthly meeting will be held on Saturday, August 12, at the Carver School at 1 PM. Among other things, we will be continuing to plan for our annual Seminole Days celebration. We encourage you to attend and to bring snack and drinks. More importantly, we hope that you will bring your great ideas. We look forward to seeing you next month.

Thank You!

We can truly never say "thank you" enough, but we feel it is important to express our appreciation every chance we get. We would like to say "thank you" to everyone who has donated money, volunteered their time, visited the museum, or shown an interest in the history of the Black Seminoles and the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association. One million thank yous.

The Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Associationinvites you to celebrate

JUNETEENTH

Saturday, June 17, 2017At the Carver School506 Beaumont Street10:00 AM – Special Juneteenth ProgramLearn about the history of Juneteenth and be inspired by the wisewords of our special guest speakers11:00 AM – Barbecue Plate SaleChicken, Sausage, Rice, Bean, Potato Salad for $10For more information: call Augusta “Gigi” Pines at 830.309.4663Email us at seminolecemeteryassoc@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Facebook: Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association, ​Twitter: SISCA_Brackett, and Instagram: SISCA_Brackett.

We are truly looking forward to this year's Juneteenth celebration. This is a very important holiday. Did you know that we (SISCA) have been celebrating Juneteenth since 1979? Our founder, Miss Charles Emily Wilson, thought it was necessary to teach our younger generations about our history. So she designated Juneteenth and Seminole Days as the two times each year that we would do this. Then she created annual celebrations around each holiday. We are so proud of this tradition. We are thankful to all of you who come and celebrate with us.

June - Black Music Month

The Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association proudly celebrates and honors Black Music Month, which was initiated by President Jimmy Carter on June 7, 1979. Similar presidential proclamations have been made since then. In his 2016 proclamation, Obama noted that African-American music and musicians have helped the country "to dance, to express our faith through music, to march against injustice, and to defend our country's enduring promise of freedom and opportunity for all."The video below will give you a brief history of black music in American. Enjoy!​https://youtu.be/Mbk8jy_bVNo

Saturday, June 10 -​Cemetery Cleanup Day

On Saturday, June 10, several members of SISCA gathered to clean the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery. The cleanup was organized by Mr. Joe Louis Factor. We will have another cleanup day soon. We will keep you posted. (Photos courtesy of Corina Torralba Harrington)

FCHS/SISCA Unknown Marker Project​

The Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association (SISCA) was formed to protect, promote, and preserve the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery. We are the custodians and keepers of this hallowed, sacred space. While improving the fence line has been one of our goals since 2015, we believe that the graves (or the inside of the cemetery) should and does take priority.On Thursday, June 8, we met with Mr. Russell Nowell, president of the Fort Clark Historical Society (FCHS). A few months ago, he had proposed that the FCHS and SISCA partner to provide markers for the unknown/unmarked graves in the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery.During our time out at the cemetery on Thursday, we counted 44 graves in the far right section (the oldest part) of the cemetery that are unmarked or have headstones that are difficult to read.The size of the bricks are 16 in x 14 in x 4 in. Each brick costs about $20. On top of each brick, there will be a thin overlay that will simply state UKNOWN. The overlay costs about $5. If we find out who a grave belongs to, the unknown overlay will be replaced with the new information. The cost to complete this first section is $1,100 or $25 per brick and overlay.A second project that will be taking place simultaneously will be the cleaning and repairing of headstones. We will also begin in the far right section of the cemetery. The majority of the headstones in this section need special attention and care paid to them.In the coming months, we look forward to showing and telling you about our progress. If you're in the area, we ask that you come out and volunteer with us. If you can, we ask that you consider making a donation.

Fort Clark Historical SocietyBrick Application​

In our May 2017 Newsletter, we introduced the Fort Clark Historical Society Brick Project. Below is the information that appeared last month:Are you looking for a unique and lasting way to memorialize a deceased loved one? The Fort Clark Historical Society has the perfect solution. If your loved one was a Black Seminole descendant or if your loved one served in the military, consider purchasing a memorial brick in their honor. As seen in the photo above, your loved one's name, rank, and dates of service can be chosen to appear on the brick. Once purchased and created, the bricks are placed at the flag memorial in front of Dickman Hall in Fort Clark Springs.Note: The funds raised from the Fort Clark Historical Society brick project will toward toward the construction of a Black Seminole statue. Their goal is approximately $80,000. If you are interested, click the blue button.​

Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to make an online payment. Or you can send us your check by mail if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us.

Our next monthly meeting is on Saturday, July 8 at the Carver School at 1 PM. We will be planning for our 38th annual Seminole Days celebration. You are welcome to bring snacks and drinks. More importantly, we hope that you will bring your great ideas. We look forward to seeing you next month.

THANK YOU!

We would like to say thank you to everyone who has donated money, volunteered their time, visited the museum, or shown interest in the history of the Black Seminoles and the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association. We truly appreciate you and truly cannot thank you enough.

On Saturday, April 29, several SISCA members and friends gathered at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery. The group started at eight in the morning. It was an overcast morning, which was a blessing. They worked until just after one in the afternoon. They were able to clean the entire cemetery.

We would like to thank everyone who took time out of their weekend to come and help with the cemetery cleanup. We are so thankful for you and cannot truly thank you enough. A very special thank you goes out to Mr. Joe Louis Factor for organizing the cleanup.​For those interested, we will be having another cleanup very soon. ​

​Saturday, May 6 - Ballet Folklorico

​On Saturday, May 6, at the Brackett ISD auditorium, the citizens of Brackettville were treated to an amazing display of music and dance. The Yumari Ballet Folklorico group wowed the crowd with their beautiful dances and vibrant costumes. Ernesto Barajas Jimenez, a representative from the Mexican Consulate in Eagle Pass, was a special guest. He spoke before the performance. The mistress of ceremony, who did an amazing job, was Benita Villarreal. For two hours, Yumari performed traditional dances from around Mexico. And singer Carlos Gabriel sang beautifully, wooing the audience with his melodious voice. The Kinney County Arts Council invited the group here in observance of the Battle of Puebla (Cinco de Mayo).

Fort Clark Historical Society Brick Memorial

Are you looking for a unique and lasting way to memorialize a deceased loved one? The Fort Clark Historical Society has the perfect solution. If your loved one was a Black Seminole descendant or if your loved one served in the military, consider purchasing a memorial brick in their honor. As seen in the photo above, your loved ones name, rank, and dates of service can be chosen to appear on the brick. Once purchased and created, the bricks are placed at the flag memorial in front of Dickman Hall in Fort Clark Springs. If you are interested, click the blue button.​

We are looking forward to this Saturday. We cannot wait to honor our matriarch and those who share her profession. We will be dedication a plaque in her memory and honoring our local teachers. Following the ceremony, we will be having a barbecue plate sale. It's going to be a fun day. We do look forward to seeing many of you there.

Membership

Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to make an online payment. Or you can send us your check by mail if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us. We just received our newly designed membership cards. We will start sending them out to our current members beginning next week. ​

We are currently planning our annual Juneteenth celebration, which will take place at the Carver School grounds on Saturday, June 17th. Did you know that Miss Charles began commemorating Juneteenth and Seminole Days in 1979 as way to encourage Black Seminoles, young and old alike, to learn about and be proud of our history? This will be our 38th year hosting and celebrating both events. We are looking forward to seeing you at the Carver School on June 17th. More details will follow soon.

Monthly Meeting - May 2017​

Our next monthly meeting will take place this Saturday, May 20, at 2 PM. It will begin after the barbecue plate sale. We do look forward to seeing you there.

Thank you!

We would like to say thank you to everyone who has donated money, volunteered their time, visited the museum or just become interested in the history of the Black Seminoles. We truly appreciate you and cannot truly thank you enough.

​Hello, everyone! We hope that your April has gotten off to a great start. Below, you will find our April Newsletter. Enjoy!

March 25 - National Medal of Honor Day

​On March 25, the Fort Clark Historical Society and the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association observed National Medal of Honor Day. Below are the two articles that were written by SISCA president Augusta Pines. They appeared in the Kinney County Post on March 23 (National Medal of Honor Day) and on March 30 (National Medal of Honor Day Part 2).

National Medal of Honor DayBy Augusta Pines, Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association President​ This Saturday, March 25, the Fort Clark Historical Society and the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association will observe National Medal of Honor Day. This is the first year that we will be marking this very sacred day. I must admit that I am very excited about this coming Saturday.What is National Medal of Honor Day? National Medal of Honor Day is a day dedicated to all Medal of Honor recipients. According to www.nationalcalendarday.com, “It was on March 25, 1863, when the first Medals of Honor were presented. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton presented Medals of Honor (Army) to six members of ‘Andrews Raiders’ for their volunteering and participation during an American Civil War raid in April of 1862. In 1990, the United States Congress designated March 25th of each year as National Medal of Honor Day. Since its creation, there have been 3,468 Medals of Honor awarded to the country’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and coast guardsmen.” Use #MedalOfHonorDay to post on social media. There are four medal of honor recipients buried at the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery. Outside of the Arlington National Cemetery, the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery has the most medal of honor recipients laid to rest. The four gentlemen are Pompey Factor, Adam Payne, Issac Payne, and John Ward. In 1873, Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie decided to go on a mission. This would be a punitive expedition. He wanted to cross the border and fight the Lipan Apaches. He decided that the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts would lead the way. On September 19, 1874, three Seminole Negro Indian Scouts and two Tonkawa Scouts went out, searching for the enemy. Very soon, they were ambushed by about forty Kiowas. The only thing that they could do was fight. Although the exact details about what happened during this skirmish are not clear, at the end of it, Adam Payne was awarded the Medal of Honor. He had risked his life to save his fellow scouts. According to Wikipedia, Payne was decorated for his habitual courage though there is no evidence that he received his medal. Pompey Factor, Isaac Payne, and John Ward received their medals following an attack on April 5, 1875. The three men were with Lieutenant Bullis. They were scouting Comanches who had built a camp on the lower Pecos River. Upon discovery of the Comanches’ habitat, a battle ensued. According to Wikipedia, the scouts dismounted and positioned themselves behind some rocks so that they would appear to be a larger force. According to Bullis’ report, “we twice took their horses from and killed three Indians and wounded a fourth,” but the hostiles, about thirty of them, eventually discovered the size of the scouting party and attempted to surround them in order to cut the scouts off from their horses. The scouts were able to maneuver away from them and get to their horses. As they were on their way back to safety, they realized that Lieutenant Bullis had been left behind. Under heavy fire, the scouts returned to the battle and rescued their commander. The three men received their medals on April 25, 1875 (Source: Wikipedia). Adam Payne passed away on January 1, 1877. Isaac Payne passed away in 1904. John Ward passed away on March 24, 1911. Pompey Factor passed away March 29, 1928. All four of these remarkable men, these Medal of Honor recipients, are buried at the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery.

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National Medal of Honor Day: Part TwoBy Augusta Pines, Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association President

On Saturday, March 25, the Fort Clark Historical Society (FCHS) and the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association (SISCA) teamed up to celebrate National Medal of Honor Day, which is the day that has been designated to honor those who have been awarded the military’s highest honor. The day was warm. Above us was a brilliantly blue, cloudless sky. It was truly a beautiful day to honor our nation’s bravest. At 2 PM, we gathered in front of the memorial flagpole located in front of Dickman Hall. Mr. Russell Nowell was the master of ceremonies for this part of the ceremony. He engaged and educated the crowd by telling us about the origins of the Medal of Honor award, how National Medal of Honor Day came to be, and some of the gentlemen who received the award while stationed at Fort Clark. Five men, in particular, were highlighted and honored. They were four Black Seminole Indian Scouts and Claron A. Windus, who had once been a deputy in Brackettville. During his presentation, Mr. Nowell invited descendants of the Black Seminole Medal of Honor recipients to place commemorative bricks that had been created with their names on them in their resting place in front of the memorial flagpole. Ms. Beverly A. Kelly and Mr. Joe Louis Factor did the honors. Following the end of this program, we hopped into our vehicles and drove to the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery. As we arrived at the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery, we were greeted by thousands of tiny wildflowers. Surely, this was a gift from Mother Nature. The beauty of this only emboldened our reverence for those that we had come to honor. At the cemetery, we gathered the four Black Seminole Indian Scouts who had received the Medal of Honor. They were Pompey Factor, Adam Payne (Paine), Isaac Payne (Paine), and John Ward. Pompey Factor, Isaac Payne, and John Ward received their Medals of Honor for their bravery during the same battle. On April 25, 1875, these three men participated in a charge against “twenty-five hostiles while on a scouting patrol,” according to their Medals of Honor citation. The fourth Black Seminole who received the Medal of Honor was Adam Payne. He served as a private in Texas at Blanco Canyon, a tributary of the Red River, where he participated in an engagement that occurred on September 19, 1874. Adam Payne "rendered invaluable service to Col. R. S. Mackenzie, 4th U.S. Cavalry, during this engagement," according to the Medal of Honor citation. This information was presented by four Black Seminole descendants, Ms. Beverly A. Kelly, Mr. Joe Louis Factor, Mr. Larvell Blanks, and myself. Following our presentation, a beautiful wreath was laid at the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery marker. From there, several of us walked to each of their graves and paid our respects to these four brave men. Following the ceremony at the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association, we hopped in our cars again and traveled to the Masonic Cemetery. It is at this cemetery that Claron A. Windus has been laid to rest. He received the Medal of Honor for bravery while serving as a bugler during a battle with the Kiowa in northern Texas on July 12, 1870. His citation reads: “For the President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Bugler Claron Augustus Windus, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 12 July 1870, while serving with Company L, 6th U.S. Cavalry, at Wichita River, Texas.” A wreath was also placed at his grave in reverence and in honor of his bravery.This was the first time that the FCHS and SISCA have celebrated National Medal of Honor Day. I am so happy that we did, and I am certainly looking forward to commemorating this day again next year.

Spring/Summer 2017 - Upcoming EventsThe next few months are going to be very busy for SISCA. We are currently planning many interesting events that we are sure you will want to be a part of. We will be sharing more details about all that we are planning very soon!

Monthly Meeting - April 2017Our next monthly meeting will be taking place this Saturday, April 8 at 1PM. Come and join us!

Thank You!Thank you for your continued support and interest in the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association.

Greetings, SISCA members! We hope that you all have been well. Since our last newsletter, we've been quite busy. Keep reading to find out what's been going on.

February 2017 - Fort Clark Historical Society Presentation

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On Saturday, February 25, Augusta "Gigi" Pines and her niece Windy Goodloe gave a presentation before the members of the Fort Clark Historical Society. The presentation was entitled "Wade in the Water." Gigi spoke about Miss Charles Emily Wilson and the history of the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association. Windy spoke about the Negro spirituals that were once sung during Seminole Negro gatherings. The crowd was warm and welcoming, and their beautiful voices filled Palisado Hall as they sang along.

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March 2017

March 3-4, 2017 - Fort Clark Days

We had a booth during Fort Clark Days. We displayed pictures and books, and we had T-shirts, caps, and mugs for sale. Mary and Al Nofi donated items to be sold as well. Unfortunately, we were rained out right after we finished setting up. Thank you to Corina Torralba for volunteering.

March 11 - One Year Anniversary of the Passing of ​Frank "Bootsie" Goodloe

Frank "Bootsie" Goodloe is no longer physically with us, but his spirit is always around us. He passed away on March 12, 2016 in Big Lake, Texas. His wife of 36 years, Josephine, and their children and their significant others, and their grandchildren gathered at his grave to honor this day.

March 12 - Burial of Mother Annabelle "Nanny" Ballard

Mother Annabelle "Nanny" Ballard was buried at the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery on Sunday, March 12. Her funeral was held the previous day in San Angelo, Texas. She passed away on March 3, 2017. From her obituary: "Her life was well lived in the light of Jesus Christ. She was born on November 18, 1927 to Harry Hannibal Haywood and Lorena Belle (Dimery) Haywood in Del Rio, Texas. Her joy was serving others and praying to the Lord for strength and mercy. Her family lineage is connected to the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts in Brackettville, Texas and her body will be laid to rest at the Seminole Negro Indian Scout Cemetery. Her husband, parents, and brother Joe Haywooe preceded her in death. She is survived by her five children Sally Ayana, John Earl Thomas, Michael Anthony Ballard, Vavette Michelle Ballard, and Angela Rose Haywood, 15 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchild, 2 sister, Rose Mary Scott and Frances Faye Sykes, 2 brothers, Harry Haywood II and Charles Haywood Sr." We extend our deepest condolences to Mother Annabelle "Nanny" Ballard's family.

March 25 - National Medal of Honor Day

In recognition of National Medal of Honor Day, the Fort Clark Historical Society (FCHS) and the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association (SISCA) have joined for this event. The program will begin at 2 PM at the Memorial in front of Dickman Hall in Fort Clark and will end at the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery. More details to follow.

Monthly Meeting - April 2017

Our next montly meeting will be held on Saturday, April 8, at 1PM. Mark your calendars!

Thank You!

Thank you for your donations and contributions. They are greatly appreciated.

Welcome back! It has been a while since we’ve published a newsletter, so this one is chockful of information. And since we last published a newsletter, we’ve accomplished so much, and we’d like to share that with you.

February 2016 – Brackett ISD Students Tour MuseumIn February, several students from Brackett ISD took a field trip to the Seminole Negro Indian Museum. As this group of approximately forty kids and three teachers toured the museum and the Carver School grounds, they learned about the history of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts and their descendants. Following the tour, they engaged in a question and answer period. The students were very interested in the history of the Black Seminoles, and they were also amazed by the stories that they heard. They truly appreciated this experience, and we appreciate Allison Watkinson for organizing the visit. We look forward to making this an annual event.

March 2016 – Fort Clark DaysIn March, we participated in Fort Clark Days. It took place between March 4-6. The association had a booth. We sold T-shirts, cups, and hats, and we gave out information about the association and about membership. Thank you to all who volunteered — Al and Mary Nofi, Mary Cleves, and Joe Louis Factor. It was nice to see Mr. Pete Pierce, the Bruno family, and Mr. Warrior. ​

​April 2016 – Cemetery CleanupA cemetery cleanup took place on April 8th. Thank you to volunteers Rafael Ruiz, Cassey Connell, Jesse Atkinson, and their team from Laughlin AFB, and members from the association — Pete Louis Pierce, Joe Louis Factor, Larvell Blanks, Marian Pierce, Joe Kelly and Clarence Ward. Everyone who volunteered really wanted to help. They were full of enthusiasm. After the cleanup, the Laughlin volunteers toured the cemetery and were given a brief history lesson by the members who had also helped clean up.

Several other cleanup days have taken place since this one. We would like to thank all of the kind souls who have dedicated their time and equipment to maintaining the cemetery.

If you have any tools or equipment that you would like to donate or allow us to use for that day, please contact us. We are in need of push lawnmowers (3) and weed eaters (5) and rakes (4) and hand blowers (3) and trash bags.

​May 2016 – Flea Market

On May 14th, we held a flea market at the Carver School. Thanks to everyone who volunteered, especially Mary and Al Nofi and Mary Cleves.

June 2016 – Juneteenth Celebration

We gathered in the school yard on June 18, 2016, to celebrate the day that enslaved Africans in Texas learned that they were free. On this day, everyone who attended enjoyed barbeque, music, and fellowship. We cannot wait until next year.

​July 2016 – Civil Rights in Black and Brown

In mid-July we were contacted by two college students named Vinicio and Steve. They asked if we would like to be interviewed for their oral history project entitled Civil Rights in Black and Brown. Along with several SISCA members, they also interviewed several other Brackettville and Del Rio residents about their thoughts and memories about the Civil Rights Movement.

August 2016 – SWTJC Humanities Project VisitUnder the tutelage of professors Dennie Johnson and Veronica Williams, a group of SWTJC students visited Brackettville during August. They are a part of a new program that is bringing the humanities back to junior colleges. They chose, as their first subject, the Black Seminoles. We are happy and honored by this choice. They also conducted interviews during Seminole Days.

September 2016 – Seminole Days

This year, Seminole Days took place from Friday, September 16 to Sunday, September 18, at the Carver School Grounds (Friday and Saturday) and the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery (Sunday).

​October 2016 – BBQ Plate Sale, Bingo, Halloween Dance, and Visit

Our very first event following Seminole Days was a bbq plate sale, bingo, and dance. It took place on Saturday, October 29. We had a great turnout for the bingo. Everyone had tons of fun, and we look forward to doing this again next year.

SISCA president Augusta “Gigi” Pines had the pleasure of visiting with a PhD candidate and his wife. They had travelled all the way from Germany in order for him to complete his studies.

​November 2016 – Upcoming Cemetery Cleanup & Thanksgiving Celebration

On Thursday, November 3, we had the pleasure of meeting Pulitzer Prize winning author Tony Horwitz. He came to Brackettville to do research on his latest project. He asked excellent questions about the Black Seminoles and their descendants. We truly enjoyed our time with him.

December 2016 – Kinney County Frontier Christmas Celebration

On December 3, SISCA participated in the Kinney County Frontier Christmas celebration at the Civic Center. The rainy weather caused the festivities to be taken in doors, but that did not dampen anyone’s spirit. We had fun seeing all of the happy faces. We look forward to participating again next year.

Monthly Meeting – January 2017

Our next monthly meeting will take place on Saturday, January 14, at 1PM. Mark your calendars!

Membership

Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click here to make an online payment. Or you can send us your check by mail if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us.

Thank you

Thank you for your donations and contributions. They are greatly appreciated. Thank you to the families who keep the graves looking clean, neat, and decorated. We could not maintain without your continued support. Thanks again for helping us keep the cemetery a beautiful, serene resting place for our loved ones.

President's Message

Frontier Christmas, 2015

This has been a successful year for the association. And I would like to thank you all for your support. We have accomplished a lot. And in the coming year, we are looking forward to accomplishing even more and meeting more of our goals.

News

(We apologize for this newsletter being so late!)This has been a very interesting and exciting month. We’ve accomplished many things.Our monthly meeting, which took place on Saturday, November 12, 2015, was successful.

GrantWe’re applying for a matching grant. They are being awarded by the Texas Historic Commission. Right now, we are in the process of writing the proposal. We look forward to giving more details at the beginning of the year.

Kinney County ThanksgivingMembers of the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association attended the community Thanksgiving dinner.Members also attended the veteran’s day program at the Fort Clark Historical Society.

Kinney County Frontier Christmas Celebration On Saturday, December 5, 2015, we participated in the Kinney County Frontier Christmas celebration. It was a very successful day. We sold T-shirt, caps, and mugs. We handed out 200 cookies and raised awareness about the organization.

MuseumWe’ve had a many interesting families visit the museum. They have shared their ideas, history, and are willing to the association. We’ve had visitors fromSan Antonio, Texas, San Angelo, Austin and from as far away as Ohio.

MembershipIs it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click here to make an online payment. Or you can send us your check by mail if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us.

​Upcoming Activities and Events

Stay tuned. We will be announcing our next fundraiser very soon.

Next meetingOur next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 9, 2015. We will also be enjoying a potluck dinner after the meeting. If you would like to bring a dish, please contact us.​

​T-shirts, caps, and mugs

Did you know that we have items for sale? Are you looking for a gift or souvenir? Look no further. Consider purchasing a t-shirt, cap, or mug for you or your loved ones. They are great gifts. You can buy them at the museum!

President's Message

I would like to thank everybody for your continuous support. I am very excited to have come so far, and to have so many promising projects for next year. I want to fulfill our goals, and for this, we will be working to get a grant. Next year will be a prosperous one! I am grateful to have so many new members that have come aboard. We always look forward to your ideas and suggestions! It's only with your participation that this association can be better.

News

Augusta Pines, Rocío Gil, Windy Goodloe

Discussion Session and Potluck on October 24On October 24th we had a very productive discussion meeting. We were glad to see new faces in our meeting and we hope to continue getting new people and new ideas. After the meeting we had a potluck and farewell party for Rocío Gil, who has been collaborating with SISCA for more than a year. She was very moved and expressed how thankful she is for all the support the Seminoles and SISCA have given her. She will continue collaborating with the website and made the promise to share her research once she finishes.

Catherine Mayo's VisitOn October 16 we had the pleasure to receive Literary Journalist and Novelist Catherine Mayo, who is working on a guide book about Texas. She contacted the association as she sees Seminole history as one of the important highlights of the region. You can see her work here. ​

Talk at Uvalde High SchoolOn October 15 we were invited to give a talk at the ROTC program at Uvalde High School. Windy Goodloe gave a general overview of the history of Black Seminoles. Augusta Pines followed with some personal experiences and she then spoke about SISCA and the work the association does. Finally, Rocío Gil spoke about the importance of history and shared some of her research ideas. The talk was so successful that we were asked to stay for a second session and we were invited to return to speak to the Social Sciences class. We would like to thank Brad Brantley for the opportunity. We plan to continue doing these kinds of talks to keep our legacy and history alive. If you have contacts that can be useful for this, please let us know!​

Membership​It's time to renew your membership! You haven't done it? Our website makes it easy, just click here and make an online payment, or you can send us your check by mail if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us. As a regular member, you can participate in the elections that will take place in September, and you can attend our regular meetings to share your ideas and to help make decisions. We have achieved many of our goals, but we still can do a better job. Your donations and dues can help us get there. You can see what we have accomplished and what we are working on here. ​

Museum DonationsOur museum keeps growing! We have received many documents and artifacts as donation and we continuously receive visitors. Thank you for your support! If you haven't been there, come and visit us!​

Upcoming Activities and Events

Next MeetingOur next meeting will take place on November 14 at 1PM. Your presence and ideas are very important to us, please consider attending this or the following meetings. All our meetings take place on the second Saturday of each month at 1PM in the Carver School building. ​

Cemetery CleanupWe need your help to keep our cemetery clean! Lookout for dates when you can volunteer, we will have the calendar very soon. ​

January 9th Meeting and PotluckAfter our January 9th meeting we will have a potluck to celebrate the new year. Don't miss it!​

FundraisersThe association needs money to be able to keep up the cemetery, the Carver School, the museum and the Masonic Lodge. We have a lot of goals that we want to achieve, so we will apply for a grant. The Texas Historical Commission offers a matching grant, and for every dollar SISCA gives, they will put one dollar. Our goal is to raise approximately $10,000 and we will be organizing fundraisers to reach our goal. There are many way you can help: - Make a donation- Organize a fundraiser wherever you live and send it to SISCA- Come to our events- Give us ideas for fundraisers- Pay your duesLet's work together and make the association grow!

News

Seminole Days 2015. Photo by Wilbur Beamer

Seminole Days ​Seminole Days exceeded our expectations! Thank you for traveling, for sharing time with friends and relatives, and for making this such a beautiful event. We hope to see you next year! You can read a detailed description of the event and look at the pictures here.We also thank you for your donations in money and in kind, they are immensely important for SISCA. All the money raised during Seminole Days will be used for the upkeep of the cemetery, the Carver School, and the museum.

T-Shirts, caps & mugsThank you for supporting SISCA by buying some of our products! If you would like to purchase more, you can contact us, we still have some products available.

Handicap Ramp at the MuseumDid you see our new handicap ramp at the Seminole museum? We want to thank the H.O.P.E. outreach for donating the work and materials for such a needed ramp. Now everybody can come and enjoy the museum.

MembershipThank you for renewing your membership during the Seminole Days! Your contributions are very important for the upkeep of the cemetery, the Carver School and the museum. They also help us to start planning for next year's Seminole Days. If you did not renew your membership you can either send a check to SISCA or you can pay directly on our website by clicking here. Membership cards are on the way!Remember: We always welcome and need volunteers. You don't have to live in Brackettville to be an active member. Please contact us and find out how you can collaborate with SISCA.

MuseumWe have a new exhibit at the museum! These are pictures taken in El Nacimiento by Dzilam Méndez. Visit us soon!

Upcoming Activities and Events

High School TalksOn October 15, members of SISCA will give a talk at the high school in Uvalde. We are hoping to continue promoting our history among students and people in the area. If you have contacts that you think would be useful for this project, please let us know.

SISCA MeetingsRemember, SISCA meetings take place the second Saturday of each month at 1PM at the Carver School. Your ideas are very important, please join us. As an exception, October's meeting will be held on October 24. After the meeting we will have a Potluck/dinner party. Everybody is welcomed!

ElectionsWe will have elections next year. If you are interested in running, you can contact president Augusta Pines for more information.

President's Message

We are excited about Seminole Days! I can tell you now that it is going to be a great success. I look forward to seeing everybody and meeting new people.

News

Seminole DaysCan you believe Seminole Days is next week? We hope to see you! We are getting ready for the parade and all the events we have planned. You can see the full itinerary here

For those of you travelling to Seminole Canyon, don't forget that the carpool meets at 7:30AM. Contact Cynthia Atchico for more information: 405-683-0698

We will have the Seminar on Friday at 4:00PM. We have experts coming from California, North Carolina, Hondo, and Mexico City! Social will follow from 6 to 9.

On Saturday the Fort Clark Historical Association will do the marker dedication for the Thompson family. Meet at 8:30 AM at the Fort Clark Springs Gate. Then join us at the parade at 10AM and enjoy the program that follows, including dinner and dance.

We will close with a remembrance service at the cemetery on Sunday at 11AM.

Seminole Float: If you want to ride in the parade but you don't have a car or float, join us! We will meet at 9:30AM on Saturday, September 19th. At the end of the parade all participants will get a free drink.

Group Picture : We want to start a new tradition. We want to start taking a group picture every year. After the parade we will gather in front of the Carver School for our first annual picture.

- Do you want to fix your hair and get your nails done for the celebration? VisitCountry Style Hair & Nail Salon! 104 East Spring StreetPhone: 830-261-0793Tuesday-Friday 10 AM to 5PMSaturday: By appointment

- Grab a meal at 3 Moon Cafe! Home made tortillasHome made menudo on Saturdays and Sundays100 E Militaryhttps://www.facebook.com/3MoonCafe

MuseumFive months in, our museum is continuing to flourish! The museum is a meeting place for ideas. We never know who will come to visit but it is always a learning experience for both. The museum has also become a good source of income for the association. We will have special hours during Seminole Days. Don't miss the chance to see it!"Today my husband and I visited the Seminole Indian Scout Museum. We were very impressed with all the memorabilia that has been collected and the organization of the material. We want to send a special thanks to Windy Goodloe for being our guide through the museum. She was very knowledgeable about all the historical information on display. I highly recommend that everyone visit this museum."James and Judy BlankenshipBrackettville, Texas

T-Shirts & CapsWe are happy to announce that we have T-shirts and caps with the Seminole Scouts logo. Available at the museum and during Seminole Days. You can order in advance. We would like to a big thank you to the Fort Clark Historical Society for their support!

T-Shirts $20: S, M, L, XL, XXL $25: XXXL

Caps: $20: Mesh & regular

CemeteryThank you for your donations! Our goal for the cemetery is to update the census and to continue improving and maintaining it. The profit from Seminole Days will go toward the cemetery.

Reminders

Membership — Membership is $24. You can pay your membership at any time online, just click here. As you know, Seminole Days is a busy time. We encourage you to pay your membership before Seminole Days so that it doesn’t slip your mind.

President's Message

I encourage you to get involved to help keep the Black Seminoles’ legacy alive and bring unity to the association. I look forward to seeing y’all during Seminole Days and meeting all of our returning and new members.

News

Hamburger Sale, August 2015

July Fundraisers – This past month we held several fundraisers in order to help us reach our financial goal to make Seminole Days a success. We had a lot of fun at our two hamburger sales, our ice cream sale, and our chicken plate sale. Each helped us get closer to our goal and we thank all of those who attended.

Masonic Lodge – On August 19th we accomplished one of our biggest goals, which was to start cleaning the Masonic Lodge located on Spring Street, in front of the Carver School grounds. Our project is to incorporate it into the museum. We hope to use it as a resource and research center in the future.

T-Shirts, Caps, and Mugs – We are happy to announce that we have T-shirts, caps, and mugs with the Seminole Scouts logo. Available at the museum and during Seminole Days.

Upcoming Activities and Events

Seminole Days – Seminole Days is a month away! We look forward to seeing you here from September 18-20. See the itinerary here.

Seminole Float – If you want to ride in the parade but you don't have a car or float, join us! We will meet at 9:30AM on Saturday, September 19th. At the end of the parade all participants will get a free drink.

Group Picture – We want to start a new tradition. We want to start taking a group picture every year. After the parade we will gather in front of the Carver School for our first annual picture.

Choir ­– Do you want to be part of a choir for Seminole Days? Contact us!

Next Meeting – Everyone is welcomed to our next meeting on ﻿September 19th at 1PM﻿ at the Carver School grounds. Please attend, we can really use your ideas.

Class Reunion – What do you think about organizing a class reunion at the Carver School? Please share your ideas with us!

Reminders

Membership — Membership is $24. You can pay your membership at any time online, just click here. As you know, Seminole Days is a busy time. We encourage you to pay your membership before Seminole Days so that it doesn’t slip your mind.

Juneteenth Celebration – It was a great success and we appreciate everybody who came and helped with the event. Everybody ate, fellowshipped, and had a good time, especially the children, who ran, played, and enjoyed themselves. Special thanks to Wilbur Beamer and Richard Griffin for their contribution with the photos and music. You can read more about the celebration here.

Museum – We appreciate all the donations that we have received. The museum keeps growing thanks to these new artifacts. During Juneteenth we were delighted to receive many visitors. The same children who were running around and playing came into the museum and showed a lot of interest in the Seminole history, by asking thought provoking questions. Since its opening on April 25th, the museum has helped SISCA to raise much needed funds that contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of ﻿the association.

Fourth of July – We were happy to participate in the Fourth of July celebration. It was a fun-filled, action-packed day. We participated in the parade, went to the program, and watched the fireworks. It was amazing.

Wikitongues Visit – We were delighted to sit down with two researchers from Wikitongues, which is a non-profit organization whose goal is to document all languages in the world. They were interested in the Seminole language and they were able to speak with several members of the association. They also made a video with Bertha Benson speaking Seminole, which will be uploaded soon at http://www.wikitongues.org/#/

Additions and Renovations – The Carver School keeps improving. One of our goals is to open up a kitchen and café. After letting our members know about this goal, we were asked what was needed. The most pressing need was a new refrigerator. Because the success of this organization is so important to many, we were gifted with not only a commercial refrigerator but also a commercial freezer. They were donated by Mary and Al Nofi, and Clarence Ward was very instrumental in getting the refrigerator and freezer here to the school.

Block Party – The First Baptist Church hosted a block party on July 22 for the Spanish speaking community at the Carver School grounds. Remember that you can rent the Carver School grounds for your events. Click here for more information.

Upcoming activities and events

Installation of the Museum Accessibility Ramp – The H.O.P.E. Outreach is donating time and materials to install the much needed museum accessibility ramp.

Cleanup – Starting July 20th, we will be cleaning the Carver School Grounds, the Masonic Lodge and the Cemetery. We need volunteers! Please contact Augusta Pines if you want to help.

Seminole Days – Start planning to attend Seminole Days! This year the celebration will be on September 18-21. Activities will include a seminar, marker dedication, parade, bingo, booths, dance, cemetery ceremony, and much more. More information soon.

Fundraiser for Seminole Days – Starting July 25, we will be organizing weekly activities to raise funds for Seminole Days. We will start with a hamburger sale on Saturday 25 from 1 to 4 at the Carver School. Your support is needed, please participate in these events. If you don’t live in Brackettville, you can also make a donation here.

Next Meeting – Everyone is welcomed to our next meeting on August 8 at 1PM at the Carver School grounds. Please attend, we can really use your ideas.

Class Reunion – What do you think about organizing a class reunion at the Carver School? Please share your ideas with us!

Choir ­– Do you want to be part of a choir for Seminole Days? Contact us!

Message from the President: Your membership is very important to us, your money helps us to accomplish our goals. You are part of a living history, so please consider joining the association TODAY! Our next event is Juneteenth, don't miss it!

News

Memorial Day Ceremony – Memorial Day was a success! Small in number but great in pride. The guest speaker Wilbur Beamer spoke about the history of Memorial Day and how he served our country. Afterward, we gathered at the Carver School grounds for food and fellowship. Click here to see the pictures

Museum – On May 24 the museum hosted special guests: Drops of Grace, a group of missionaries from Round Rock TX. We are very appreciative to this group and their donations.

President’s Blog – The President has created a blog! Do you want to know more about what is happening in the association? Click here to read it

Upcoming activities and events

Juneteenth Celebration – Don’t miss it! It will take place on June 20th at the Carver School grounds. We have an exciting event planned, we hope to see you there.

Next Meeting – Everyone is welcomed to our next meeting on June 13 at 1PM at the Carver School grounds. Please attend, we can really use your ideas.

Dear Members, Welcome to our first newsletter! In this newsletter, you will find information about upcoming and past events, goals, memberships, Carver School grounds rentals, our new website, and general news.

Museum — The grand opening of the museum was a success. Thank you to all who attended. We have many goals for the museum. One of the most exciting is that we plan to make it a virtual museum, so those who are unable to travel to Brackett can still “virtually” tour.

Ms. Joni Mae Jordan — Once again, the Seminole Negro Indian Scout Cemetery Association sends our deepest condolences to the family of Joni Mae Jordan. We looked to her often for guidance and wisdom. She will be missed.

Goals — Like many of you, the Seminole Negro Indian Scout Cemetery Association has many goals. As we come up with new goals and accomplish them, we look forward to informing you. Our first goal is to paint the exterior of the museum and replace the broken windows. We want to have this goal accomplished before September Days.

Carver School Grounds Rentals — Did you know that the Carver School Grounds are available for rental? If you have an event planned, but do not have a venue, please contact us. Our rates are very affordable, and we have plenty of space.

Website — How do you like our new website? We hope you are as pleased with it as we are. Our website is the place to come for all information pertaining to the Seminole Negro Indian Scout Cemetery Association. Your suggestions and ideas on ways to improve our new website are always welcomed. http://www.seminolecemeteryassociation.com/

Twitter – You can now follow us on Twitter @SISCA_Brackett

Membership — Membership is $24. You can pay your membership at any time on this website. We ask that you send your updated information to seminolecemeteryassoc@gmail.com

News —

The museum is open every Saturday from 1-4PM. The admission fee is $5.

Juneteenth is right around the corner. We are in the process of planning a spectacular celebration. We look forward to seeing you there.

Our next regular meeting is Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 1 PM (This meeting is tentatively cancelled because Ms. Joni Mae Jordan’s homegoing service is scheduled for this same day. We may still meet but at a later time during the day. Details will be posted as soon as they are decided).

A Memorial Day Celebration/Observance is in the works. More details to follow very soon.

Volunteers — We are always seeking volunteers to help with cleaning the Carver School Grounds and the cemetery. If you are interested, please contact us.

Donations — Your donations are always welcomed. Your continued support will always be appreciated.

Thank yous — Thank you to the following individuals and organizations: